A/N; Disclaimer: I own my thoughts! That's it! This is my first Dramione and I am dedicating it to BelleofSummer (but she already knows this haha!). Without further ado, here goes!
Wind whipped at the ankles and coat hems and robes of the many witches and wizards in Diagon Alley. The stores were busy that January afternoon and Hermione Granger bustled amongst the throngs of people. She was leaving her last stop, Flourish and Blotts, when she accidentally ran into a wall. Only that wall happened to be a human being.
"Oh, I am so sorry! I didn't see you!" Hermione spoke in a quick rush.
"No, it was my fault, I assure you. My sincerest apologies."
Hermione was taken aback. She knew that voice but had not heard it for three years. Looking up into the face of the man she ran into, Hermione gasped slightly when taking in the face of Draco Malfoy.
"Draco," Hermione breathed, "Draco Malfoy."
"The one and only," he smiled.
Hermione took a step back, completely unsure what to make of the current situation in which she found herself. Here was this man who, although he apologized for his behavior during their school years after the war, still seemed like a person to avoid spending anything more than mere seconds in passing with. He said nothing as she surveyed him and tried to register what exactly was happening for the world to turn completely and thrust the two together. At length Hermione's gaze softened and Draco relaxed as well.
"Can I take you for a drink or something? It's the least I could do for running into you," Draco offered.
"Well, uh, yes, that would be fine. Thank you." Hermione have Draco an unsure half smile and clutched the books she recently purchased closer to her chest.
"Very well. If you don't mind, I have a few purchases to make then we can be on our way."
"That's fine. I'll just be across the street. I just need to pick up a late Christmas present for Harry."
Draco nodded and the two went in opposite directions. Hermione felt her head slightly spinning in confusing as her brows knitted together. She really didn't have a late Christmas to pick up, she just needed some time to breathe and try to think. It wasn't like Draco to offer to buy anyone, especially someone he has never been friends with or on the best terms with, a drink. Maybe this was a different Draco Malfoy though, one who deserved a chance.
'Well,' Hermione thought to herself, 'I can either wait for him to come over here and have a drink with him, or leave and forget this ever happened.'
She chewed her lip as she took a fleeting glance out the shop's front window. Draco was closing the distance between the two stores now and coming closer to Hermione. Dread starting to pool in her stomach and the increasing feeling of wanting to leave began to overpower her. Taking a breath to steady her nerves, Hermione closed her eyes as the world contracted around her.